Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation Grant (under $50,000)

The Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation Grant supports initiatives that improve health and quality of life in the Rio Grande Valley. Grants range from $50,000 to over $500,000 for various projects, including responsive, collaborative, matching, and foundation initiatives. Eligible nonprofit organizations must serve specific counties and demonstrate positive health impacts. Prioritization is given to projects fostering collaboration and community support. Note: A Letter of Intent is required for requests exceeding $50,000.

Information for Grantseekers
The Legacy Foundation invests in and serves as a catalyst for ideas, partnerships, medical education, research and programs that improve the health and quality of life in the Rio Grande Valley. The Foundation defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being.
Types of Grants
Responsive Grants:

• Up to $50,000Supports specific activities with defined goals over a set period.Responsive grants do not require a Letter of Intent.
• Matching Grants:
• VariableContact us to seek matching funds or if you have already secured funding requiring a match.Approval may lead to a detailed application.

Eligibility

Organizations must meet the following criteria:Be a nonprofit organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) or 170(c); or an organization described in sections 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code.Serve residents of Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, or Willacy counties.Demonstrate positive health effects within our funding area.Not have received funding within the Responsive or Collaborative categories in the previous 12 months
The Legacy Foundation will fund:New projectsOperating expensesMulti-year requestsCapital purchasesIndirect costs (up to 10%)Matching fundsCertain staff positions with a sustainability planOrganizations can submit one proposal per cycle, provided they are not currently funded.Who should my letters of support come from?For all grant applications, a Letter of Support is required from the leader of your organization.This should be the Chairperson of the Board of Directors or Executive Director/CEO for nonprofit organizations; the Mayor for cities; the County Judge for counties; or, in the case of universities, the Dean of the relevant college or the University President if the request spans multiple departments. For other public entities, the letter should come from the equivalent highest-ranking official.All letters must be on official letterhead, signed, and include specific reasons for supporting the proposed project, program, or operating request, as well as how it aligns with the organization’s goals or priorities. For Collaborative, Matching, and Foundation Initiative grants, additional Letters of Support are required from partner organizations. These letters must confirm the partner’s understanding of the project, including timeline, goals, and their specific role. If third-party Letters of Support are required, they must be submitted directly through our grant application software via a link sent to each partner organization.

Ineligibility

The Legacy Foundation will not fund:Insurance premiumsEndowmentsIndividualsEvent sponsorshipsDebt retirementOperational deficitsBudgets should exclude costs not directly related to your project, such as grant writer fees or unrelated administrative expenses.